The RFK Bridge

On November 19, 2008, The Triborough Bridge was officially re-named The Robert Francis Kennedy Memorial Bridge. It was forty years ago this past June when Bobby Kennedy was gunned down by an assasin after winning the California Democratic presidential primary. We can only guess at what would have happenned if Bobby Kennedy faced Richard Nixon in the 1968 election. Perhaps some close friends would be alive today. Perhaps there would be peace.
After the assasination of Martin Luther King in April of 1968, Bobby predicted that in 40 years we would elect a black man to our highest office.
The tribute on 11/19/08 at the RFK Bridge included many speakers. This is what Mayor Bloomberg said:
Robert F. Kennedy is a perfect match in both regards. He climbed mountains — literally. In fact, there’s one in Canada named for him. But he also scaled plenty of mountains in his political career, cracking down on organized crime, helping his brother resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis, and fighting for equal opportunity for all Americans — from Bed-Stuy to Birmingham.
As United States attorney general, a U.S. senator from New York, and later, as a candidate for president, Robert F. Kennedy thought on a grand scale and achieved what many thought impossible.
He stood at the summit and saw the true soul of America. And like the great bridge that stretches above us, he tied us together: people of every color, every class, every creed. He united us — as New Yorkers and Americans — in the common cause of social justice. He devoted his life to the belief that America should be a place where any child — regardless of race or religion — has an equal shot at realizing the American dream of getting a good education, and of being elected to our nation’s highest office. He knew that day would come. And it has.

His most famous quote is:

"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were and ask why not."

We miss you Bobby!
DD

The Struggle Continues (No on 8)

My friends, as we rejoiced in the fact that our beloved America finaly boldly announced to the world that we are truly free, the cause of liberty was sadly silenced in some quarters on November 4, 2008. California passed Proposition 8 which disallowed marriage between persons of the same sex. A small victory occurred when Connecticut joined Massachusetts as the only 2 states that allow such unions.

On November 15, 2008, there were rallies in every major city in America to raise awareness to the fact that there are currently about 30 MILLION Americans who are not allowed to wed. In 1968, there were 16 States where it was illegal for people from different races to wed.

The other night, I watched a movie that was made that year (1968). It was "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" starring Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Sidnet Poitier, among others. It featured some pretty dated dialogue concerning a "colored" man marrying a white woman. The subject was taboo at that time 40 years ago. I wonder if Derek Jeter's parents saw that film!

When President Clinton passed the law that would not exclude gay men and women from the military, there were some people who were upset by that. Some were afraid that this would affect them adversely. Perhaps their fears were based on misconceptions and lies. It did not adversely affect the military but allowed young patriotic Americans who happened to be gay, to proudly serve their country as they had all along but no longer under a shroud of secrecy and false shame. My Dad once told me that when he and his comrades were under fierce attack on Anzio Beach, he couldn't care in the least who they slept with at home. When they came home in boxes, they were no less heroes because they happened to be gay.

So why are people so afraid that gay men and women could marry? How does this hurt anyone? Are our archaic religious beliefs so pervasive that an entire segment of our population can be legally discriminated against? Love is good. Please remember that a public affirmation of love serves us all and does no harm.

I suppose that fear of one's own sexuality probably plays a role. Another is the fear that your child may be gay. Once we understand that being gay is not an affliction, but another diversity to be celebrated, we will never get out of this cycle of hate and fear.

We are all diminished by our acceptance of legal prejudice. If your anti gay feelings are solely based on your religious beliefs, I offer you a few words:
"Judge not, that ye be not judged" Matthew 7:1

If you are unable to accept the truth, then please get out of the way.......or be judged.

DD

A Night For The Ages

We witnessed history tonight! It was as if we were present at the signing of The Declaration Of Independence, or if we were present during The Gettysburg Address. We saw the like of women's suffrage coming to fruition and our victory in World War II. It was akin to John Kennedy promising conquest of the new frontier or Ronald Reagan challenging The Soviets to tear down that wall!

Or perhaps Jackie Robinson taking up his position at second base in Ebbett's Field.

I am proud to be an American tonight. Proud because I have seen our beloved country rise to a plateau I never honestly expected to see. I witnessed history. America has been reborn again. We are the best. We can overcome hate, prejudice, injustice, and slavery. We can sing in harmony, in one voice, and proclaim to the world that this is truly the land of the free and the home of the brave!

I was cynical and highly doubtful that America had the capability to be great again. Since John Kennedy was assassinated, our leaders have been lacking in many ways. Tonight, we have A New Hope for greatness, not seen since I was a child.

In 1968, before he was assassinated, Robert Kennedy said that it would be 40 years before a black person would be elected president.

I was 13 in 1972. That was the first presidential campaign that I was seriously interested in. Sister Ruth ( My teacher in 8th grade) made me take the McGovern button off my tie. My family was badly affected by The Viet Nam War. I went to anti war rallies and read everything I could about Nixon, McGovern, economy, the war, the republican burglaries and lies, the attempts to cover up Watergate, the invasions of Laos, and Cambodia, and the possibility that the new 18 year old voters could somehow change a nation. On Election Night in 1972, I wept.

As Robert Kennedy prophesied, in 2008, an African American was elected to the highest office in the land. There was rejoicing throughout the country! But what's much more, we have elected a man who will speak for all men and women. A man who is intelligent, educated, and has a vision for the future of America. He is not looking to profit, but to protect and defend all of us! President Barack Obama will be one of the best presidents we have ever had. He will be because he has to.

Just like Jackie Robinson at second base in Ebbett's Field.

On Election Night in 2008, I wept....this time for joy.
DD

The Question of a Lifetime!!!

My dear friend Robin Eve posed a question! It is a hard one to answer but I gave it a shot nevertheless (is that one word?).

In the past 20 years, what is the most important thing that you have learned, and why? I replied:

Dear Robin,

As I approach my 50th birthday, this question is extremely prescient. The answer is really quite simple. It is simply to make the most of your life and your potential. Make every day important to yourself and to everyone you touch. Complacency kills the soul. The wonder of new experiences are at all of our fingertips. Don't be afraid to overturn the apple cart and upset a few people on the way because if you do it in the right way, they will eventually learn something. Far too many of us go to our mundane jobs, then sit in our little boxes, watch TV and forget what real feeling is all about. I did that for a long time. I loved my family, coached little league, and worked hard. I was turning into my father. I loved him, but something was missing.

Three events changed my life.

The first was in August 2001 when a music idol from my youth, virtually came out of retirement, and made an album that spoke to me in a profound way. That was Ian Hunter. His CD "RANT" and his ballad "Dead Man Walking" started me thinking that if a 60 year old man could still rock, then maybe I could too. I picked up my guitar again.

The second was 9/11. On 9/12 and 9/13, I stayed up all night writing "Tower To The Sky" through tears and catharsis. The floodgates opened. I wrote over 50 songs in the following years. There was no more TV for me, ever.

The 3rd was when my love, Magge, made me get off my butt and suggested that I should play these songs for others to hear. I found a little bar called The Village Pub South that had an Open Mic Night hosted by a talented young woman who accepted me, and my songs, immediately with no question. The crowded bar cheered for my "stupid songs" and I realized at that moment that I had something to give.

I never looked back. From that moment on, I decided to shun complacency forever and always look forward. My life has been amazing since these revelations. I have made more real friends in the past 7 years than in the previous 42. I have played in front of huge crowds and intimate rooms. I recorded 2 full CDs and more. I have played with hundreds of amazing musicians. I have met and partied with rock stars and roadies and had dinner with the CEO of Bambu rolling papers! That was interesting!

The most important thing I learned in the past 20 years is to live life every day as though it is the final day. Don't ever look back. Be a participant, not a spectator.

The Late Great Erma Bombeck wrote while dying of cancer:

"I should have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life."

I am no longer a spectator. I stopped watching the evil tube years ago. TV is the bane of our existence. It is the Liar in the room. If you want to see something really cool, watch the sunset, or the stars on a clear night. I don't mean Dancing With The Stars. Listen to some music. Write something. Read something. Talk to someone. Send an e-mail.

TV can be a useful tool. Treat it as such. Watch a live sports event, a political debate, some breaking news, but when it devolves into bad drama, with bad actors, terrible writing, trite commentary, and streams of commercials, turn the box off! Think!!!! Discuss!!! Dream!

You have one life! Don't waste it watching false laughing and fake crying. Watch the trees or read Joyce Kilmer. If you need to see flickering images, then watch a movie that will make you feel or think. There are many that transcend the mediocrity and have become art! But.. Make sure you watch them without commercial interuption!!!

DD

Lets Go Rays, Lets Go Rays!

I am a Mets fan through and through. That said, being a Mets fan is an existence of disappointment. There have been brief times of glory. The miracle of 69 and the roller coaster ride of 86 are the only 2 times we have reached the mountain top. For that reason and the fact that being a Mets fan equates with either outright losing or bitter defeat, I pick a team every year that I choose in Spring Training and follow them throughout the season. I buy their hats. I like baseball hats. They make me feel comfortable. I digress.
I started this little ritual after The Mets lost to The hated Yankees in the 2000 World Series. In 2001, I was travelling to Arizona fairly regularly on business and I started following the Diamondbacks. Although I was and will always be a Mets fan, I became enamored with The D'Backs! I bought a hat! They beat The Yankees and won The World Series. I was on to something.
In the Spring of 2002, I read an article calling The Minnisota Twins the "anti-yankees". They had a low payroll, young players, an ex-Met manager, and had a losing record for a few years. I adopted them! I bought their hat. They finished first in their division but lost in the playoffs (to The Yankees) but they have been contenders since.
So I continued with this yearly pick of a team to follow so I could enjoy baseball after my Mets had fallen like a stone.
In 2003, I picked The Washington Nationals. They finished 2nd in The NL East but were surprise contenders for most of the season.
In 2004, It was The Houston Astros. They made it to the playoffs but lost.
In 2005, I picked The White Sox, and guess what? They won it all!!! That was for Shoeless Joe and the Eight Men Out! And Ray Kinsella.
In 2006, I believed my luck had changed, so I picked The Mets! They finally deposed the Braves, finished first in The NL East, but were devestated in game 7 of the NLCS by the Cardinals despite "The Catch" from Endy Chavez. I can still see Carlos Beltran looking at the third strike!
In 2007, I picked The Mets again (Big Mistake) although I thought The Red Sox were the team to beat. Then came the collapse. It was the biggest breakdown in baseball history. They broke my heart again.
In March of 2008, I watched a Spring Training game between the Yankees and The Tampa Bay Rays. There were pitches thrown at batters and a collision and fight at second base. These little upstart Rays were spanking the mighty Yankees! No one believed The Rays were going to be anything but the losers they had been for their first ten years. I found a team to follow! They reminded me of the 69 Mets! I picked the Tampa Rays to go all the way to The World Series and win! I have eye witnesses to prove it! I bought a hat!
Tonight, I watched The Tampa Rays beat The Chigago White Sox for the second time in the playoffs. It's not over, but I believe The Rays will finish off The Chisox, Beat The Bosox, and win The Series!
I have another reason to root for these upstart little underdogs. In July, 2007, I watched the last baseball game together with my Dad. It was The Tampa Rays vs. The Chicago White Sox. The Rays won.

Shea Goodbye

I went to my first Baseball Game in 1964. My father took me to Shea Stadium to see the Mets play the Giants. I don't remember much about the game, but I remember being with my Dad and the overwhelming sight of the green grass and the enormity of Shea.

We went to many games together over the following 10 years. We had a little ritual each year. When the schedule was published in the newspaper each Spring, I would cut it out and circle 4 games. In those days, there were only a few places you could buy advance tickets other than at the stadium. One place that sold tickets was at Macy's in the Walt Whitman mall in Huntington. It was in the top floor by the furniture department. I always picked at least one game against the Giants. They were my father's favorite team until they moved to San Francisco in 1958. Plus they had my favorite non Met, Willie Mays.

I looked forward to those games like they were Christmas morning. The drive to Shea was always filled with anticipation but my heart would always start to pound as soon as we passed the Unisphere at the World's Fair grounds along the Grand Central Parkway and Shea Stadium came into view! It was like no other feeling in the world!

Shea Stadium was an amazing sight to behold! It was tall and light grey with blue and orange panels suspended from cables that were invisible from a distance. They seemed to be floating in mid air. Inside, there was always an intense feeling of excitement, even though we pretty much knew the Mets would probably lose. It didn't matter! There were many fathers and sons who were there for the sheer joy of the game. The green grass enveloped by a colorful grandstand was a treat for the eye! The field level seats were yellow, the loge was an orange ring, the mezzanine was blue, and the huge upper deck was green. The aromas were piercing! The air was filled with the smells of hot dogs, peanuts, beer, and cigars. If I concentrate hard enough, I can still conjure up the sensory experience.

Upon entering the gates, we would always buy a scorecard. They were 25 cents and came with a little blue pencil. My Dad taught me how to keep score. He taught me the nuances of the game. He loved pitching duels and great defense. Every time someone would hit a long fly ball, he would tell me to watch the outfielders to tell whether they had it or not.

1969 was the year of miracles. I was 10 and suddenly The Mets were a contending team! Every game we went to that year, the Mets won! In June we were at Shea when a pitching duel between Mets rookie Gary Gentry and Giants ace Juan Marichal went into extra innings. Tommie Agee hit a line drive homerun in the bottom of the 10th to give The Mets a 1-0 victory. That was the first time I felt Shea Stadium MOVE! The whole place shook! It was like an earthquake was happening in Flushing! We all know what followed. The Mets destroyed the Cubs with the help of a little black cat, They swept the Braves in the NLCS, and defeated the mighty Orioles in the series. Shea Stadium shook many times that year.

As the years went by, my father and I went to fewer games together. I became a teenager and after 1973, the Mets became losers again. When they traded Tom Seaver in 1977, I had lost interest. In the subsequent years, I got married and started my own family. A friend invited me to a game in 1984. The resurgent Mets with new ownership and great young ballplayers were contending again. I saw Dwight Gooden out duel Rick Sutcliffe in an amazing 1 hit performance. Shea Stadium was rocking again just like 1969!

In 1985, I took my son Dave to his first baseball game at Shea Stadium. I watched his excitement as though I was looking at myself through my father's eyes. In 1986, I took my daughter Jessica to her first game at Shea. Dave, Jessica, my wife Magge, and I were preparing to go. The Mets and Dwight Gooden were facing The Dodgers and their ace Fernando Valenzuela. Shea was sold out! Magge was afraid that Jessica (age 6) might be scared by the huge crowd. Magge told Jess to stay close to us and if you get lost, go to a policeman. When she asked Jessica "what will you do if you get lost?" Jessica said "I'll go home with Mookie Wilson!" We laugh about that story to this day!

I have taken all 5 of my children to their first baseball game at Shea Stadium. To us, it is the field of dreams. We went for the last time a few weeks ago. The Mets won that day. I tried to take it all in and savor it for all time. In my mind are the sights, smells, sounds, colors, and the memories. The planes taking off from La Guardia, the little blue pencils, running down the ramps, telling my kids to stop running down the ramps, Tom Terrific's dirt stained right knee, Keith Hernandez stretching in the outfield, Mike Piazza's mighty blasts, The magic, Jane Jarvis on her Thomas organ, Kiner's Korner, the mexican hat dance, the Curly Shuffle, Doc, Dar-ryl, Gil, Casey, Yogi, Davey, The Koos, Buddy, Tug, Rusty, Maz, The Kid, Wally, Fonsie, Reyes, Endy, Santana, Murph, Mookie, AND... The chants of "Lets Go Mets" that were never provoked by a message board but instead by a crowd lead by cherubic voices.

In a few weeks Shea will be dust. Tonight I shed a tear at the passing of another old friend. I have been to many other ballparks. To me, The only one that has real magic is Shea Stadium!

Remember to watch the outfielders!

RIP Shea Stadium 1964-2008

Suspend This, Senator!

The economy is crashing so the great John McCain has suspended his campaign to "save the country" by going to Washington and bail out the BAIL OUT!!! Plus, he bailed out on his appearence on Letterman, but showed up for Katie Couric! Now he is possibly bailing out on his promise to debate Senator Obama on Friday Night!

First... He is not the president! He is running for president. He is a Senator that has proclaimed publicly, his poor understanding of the economy! All he can do is screw up whatever solution the Congress (now working together!!!) will come up with.

Even if he knows the solution (like he knows how to find Osama Bin Laden), WHY hasn't he put his running mate in charge of the campaign instead of SUSPENDING it?????

What will he do as president when he is unable to multitask? SUSPEND the COUNTRY???
His VP is apparently unable to take over an election campaign! How can we expect her to take charge of the country when another inevitable crisis occurs???

Bad choices, bad decisions, bad running mate, and old ideas, create a hopeless future. Am I the only one who can see an old man acting like a child and a young man acting presidential? Senator Obama did not "suspend his campaign" although he also went to Washington. Senator Biden is helping in Washington and is still vigorously campaigning! Where is Sarah Palin???

Here is a link to Letterman's reaction to Senator McCain's last minute cancellation. This is priceless!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E

The truth is that John McCain was a "war hero". He bombed and paved the way for others to bomb an innocent populace in Viet Nam. VIET NAM??!!!!! Does anyone remember the travesty of that undeclared, unjust, and illegal war??? His father was a conspiritor in starting and escalating that "police action" (it was never a declared war) that took the lives of 60,000 American soldiers and brutaly wounded another 500,000 Americans! Not to mention the millions who died in South East Asia as a direct result of our "conflict". We are still suffering the consequences of one of the lowest points in American history.

Some people doubt my patriotism because I actually know the history of our beloved country. Well, like it or not boys and girls, The good old US of A has been the perpetrators of some of the worst crimes toward humanity.

People like lists, so read this one!

1. SLAVERY
The majority of our founding fathers either owned slaves or profited from the slave trade. They formed a new country based on the premise that "all men are created equal" except if you are black, Indian, or a woman! This was followed by a bloody civil war and an era that still exists that included segregation, lynchings, murder, and blatant terrorism.

2. GENOCIDE
In our westward expansion, we nearly destroyed an entire race of human beings. The estimates range up to 2 MILLION killed. We were the first ones to use use chemical weapons in the 1800s by circulating blankets infested with smallpox on people with no immunity.

3. SEXISM
It was 130 years after the ratification of the constitution before women (52% of the population) had the right to vote!

4. NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
America is still the only country to use nuclear weapons on other human beings. We started the arms race and the cold war. Our threat is what caused and still causes other nations to construct these weapons. They do it not because they hate us, but because they fear us.

5. TERRORISM
Near the end of World War II in Europe, the war was all but won. Berlin was about be overrun. Hitler was contemplating suicide. They were out of supplies and retreating fast. So what did we do? We FIREBOMBED Dresden. This was an old city with absolutely no military significance. With Berlin in ruins, we sent every bomb imaginable to this peaceful city and killed over 40,000 civilians. There were more people killed in Dresden than in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

DIS-HONARABLE MENTION
Child labor, pollution, global warming, exploitation of immigrants, torture, executions, assasinations, depressions, recessions, Nixon, intolerance to gays, imperialism, war for oil, Viet Nam, Korea, The Spanish American War, IRAQ, G. W. Bush, communist witch hunts, Blue laws, censorship, unionbusters, glass ceilings, disco, drug traffic, american idol, commercialism, anti semitism, Watergate, the KKK, white supremism, street crime, school shootings, Wall Street.

I'm sure you think I hate America. Well I don't. That is because, I believe that the true greatness is yet to come. Now can be the turning point to the promise of true freedom. I am hopeful that real change will occur, even if the stock market collapses, and possibly because the stock market collapses. Tear it all down and begin again might be the way to go.

-DD